1. How Physicians Can Use a HELOC to Stay Financially Nimble

Physicians and APPs often take on significant financial burdens early in their careers, from medical school debt to relocation and practice setup costs. While steering clear of debt is sound advice in many cases, not all borrowing is harmful. A home equity line of credit (HELOC) is one option that offers flexibility and can support long-term financial health. With a HELOC, you can borrow against your home equity as needed, often at lower interest rates than other types of credit.

Used strategically, a HELOC can help cover unplanned expenses without disrupting investments. It also offers an opportunity to refinance higher-interest debt or fund professional and personal projects in stages, such as home upgrades or business investments. Because you only draw what you need, it can serve as a helpful backup plan for those managing variable cash flow or preparing for intermittent expenses.

As with any financial decision, it’s essential to assess how a HELOC aligns with your overall financial objectives. Interest rates fluctuate, and the tax deductibility of HELOCs depends on how the funds are used. Still, for clinicians balancing demanding careers with complex financial responsibilities, a HELOC offers a practical way to preserve flexibility that is worth looking into.

(The White Coat Investor, September 12)

2. AI in Healthcare Is Promising, But Needs To Be Used Responsibly

Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly prevalent in hospitals and healthcare systems, and it’s easy to see why. AI can streamline tasks like prior authorizations, summarize complex patient data, and even assist with documentation. But despite its efficiency, experts caution that its use in patient care must remain grounded in clinician oversight, transparent design, and high-quality data.

Scott Anderson of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists emphasizes that AI is not a plug-and-play solution. To ensure safe use, clinicians require governance structures, mechanisms for evaluating effectiveness, and clear roles in implementation. As AI continues to influence everything from workflow to patient education, clinicians must be trained to use the tools effectively, understand when they’re working, and recognize when they’re not.

AI won’t replace clinical judgment, and it shouldn’t erode patient trust. Maintaining data integrity, monitoring for algorithm bias, and establishing systems for reporting issues are all crucial to ensuring accurate outcomes. AI can elevate care, but only if clinicians remain firmly in the driver’s seat.

(Healthcare IT News, September 19)

3. Four Pillars That Help Physicians Sustain Balance and Purpose

Burnout continues to challenge physicians at every stage of their careers, from residency through retirement. In reflecting on his own journey from Nepal to running a rheumatology practice in North Carolina, Dr. Ananta Subedi outlines four foundational pillars that have helped him stay grounded: faith, family, meaningful work, and friendships.

For Dr. Subedi, faith encompasses mindfulness and a deeper sense of service that extends beyond productivity metrics. Family is about integration and aligning his professional mission with the support and shared goals of loved ones, staff, and patients. Running an independent practice has allowed him to reconnect with the purpose that drew him to medicine in the first place, and he finds renewed meaning in mentoring others, especially immigrant physicians.

Connection with colleagues rounds out his framework. After experiencing early feelings of isolation, Dr. Subedi built intentional relationships with peers who now serve as sounding boards and sources of support. These four elements reinforce one another. When one feels off-kilter, he reorients toward the whole. His message to fellow physicians is that sustained well-being requires regular attention to all four pillars and the willingness to recalibrate when needed.

(KevinMD, September 7)

4. How Rural Hospitals Are Collaborating to Stay Independent and Open

In states like North Dakota, small hospitals are forming partnerships to preserve local control while enhancing access to care. Through clinically integrated networks like the Rough Rider Network, independent rural facilities can share resources, negotiate better pricing, and participate in value-based care contracts without being absorbed by larger systems. These alliances are helping hospitals maintain services that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive.

The model isn’t new, but it’s gaining traction. Since launching in 2023, the Rough Rider Network has grown to include 22 hospitals, serving about two-thirds of rural North Dakotans. These networks enable hospitals to share staff, coordinate telehealth services, and collaborate on community development efforts, such as broadband or housing initiatives. Importantly, they help member facilities remain economically viable in regions where hospitals are often one of the largest local employers.

While more research is needed to measure outcomes system-wide, early results show promise. Pilot programs have boosted preventive care visits and reduced unnecessary hospital use. For rural physicians and administrators, these partnerships offer a practical path forward for maintaining hospital operations and delivering care closer to home.

(NPR, September 2)

5. PTET Still Offers Tax Relief for High-Earning Locum Providers

If you’re an independent physician or APP working in a high-tax state, you’ve likely felt the pinch of the federal $10,000 cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions. The pass-through entity tax (PTET) emerged as a workaround, allowing your business entity to pay state taxes, not you personally. That payment can then be deducted at the federal level, sidestepping the SALT cap and reducing your taxable income.

As of 2025, 34 states offer PTET elections. And while the One Big Beautiful Bill Act raises the SALT cap to $40,000 in 2025, the benefit phases out at higher incomes and reverts to its original level in 2030. For many high-earning locums, PTET still offers more consistent savings, primarily if you work across multiple states or take the standard deduction.

To take advantage, you’ll need to elect S corp status, file properly in each PTET-participating state, and keep an eye on deadlines. The rules are technical and vary widely, but the payoff can be significant. As always, working closely with a tax professional who understands physician-specific structures is key to ensuring compliance. 

(The Doctor’s CPA, September 10)

6. Why Physicians Are Embracing AI Faster Than Past Tech Shifts

Historically, physicians have approached new technologies with caution. But AI is gaining traction fast. In 2024, nearly two-thirds of physicians reported using AI tools, nearly double the number from the previous year. What’s different this time? AI is directly improving clinical efficiency, easing administrative burdens, and allowing physicians to focus more on patient care.

Adoption appears widespread and is not limited to large health systems. Clinicians in private practice and smaller care settings are using AI to support documentation, surface key patient insights, and streamline repetitive tasks. Physicians are also driving demand. With burnout rates still high, many are eager for tools that reduce friction without compromising patient relationships. And rather than fear replacement, experts emphasize the importance of learning to use AI effectively as a core clinical skill.

Looking ahead, the focus is shifting to how health systems can better surface meaningful data in real time. Physicians want less time spent combing through charts and more time applying insights. AI’s potential lies in connecting the dots and turning fragmented records into actionable stories that support better decision-making at the bedside. The challenge now isn’t only adoption, but making sure clinicians are equipped to use these tools wisely.

(American Medical Association, September 22)

7. Smartwatches May Help Physicians Reduce Burnout, Study Finds

A new study from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Mayo Clinic suggests that smartwatches could play a role in reducing physician burnout, provided they are used actively. Physicians who regularly engaged with their heart rate, sleep quality, and activity levels experienced a 54% reduction in burnout risk over six months, compared to a control group whose watches simply recorded data.

The study aligns with calls from the National Academy of Medicine to prioritize physician well-being and fills a gap in the research on interventions. While smartwatches didn’t improve overall quality of life, stress levels, or sleepiness scores, researchers noted that engaging with real-time data helped clinicians respond to early signs of stress before they became worse. 

Smartwatches aren’t a standalone solution. Researchers emphasized that wearable tech should be paired with broader institutional support and structural changes to address burnout comprehensively. Still, for physicians seeking to take small, personal steps toward resilience, regular self-monitoring may provide a simple and effective starting point.

(Westworld, August 28)

8. Medicaid Cuts Could Reshape Rural Health Care Nationwide

As federal Medicaid changes take effect in the coming years, rural hospitals across the US will face severe financial strain. New policies, such as expanded work requirements and limits on state funding mechanisms, could result in millions of patients losing coverage, with disproportionate impacts on rural and underserved areas where Medicaid often makes up a significant share of hospital revenue.

Many rural hospitals already operate on tight margins and serve communities with higher rates of disability, fewer job opportunities, and long travel times for care. Loss of Medicaid funding may force cuts to services such as maternity care or specialty coverage, or, in some cases, threaten the viability of facilities. Even hospitals backed by larger systems are preparing for downstream impacts on staffing and operations.

While federal relief funds have been designated to help rural providers adapt, health leaders caution that the support won’t fully offset coverage losses or reimbursement cuts. Across the US, rural physicians and administrators are weighing how to maintain access, shift care delivery models, and continue serving high-need communities, often with fewer resources and greater logistical challenges.

(The Salt Lake Tribune, September 19)